A. Payment: Upon completion of the abatement of a weed hazard or nuisance as provided for herein, the city clerk shall demand payment for the costs of such abatement, plus applicable administrative fees, from the property owner by mailing a statement of the fees and charges to the last known address of the owner and/or person in possession as shown by the records of the county. Notice shall be by ordinary mail. Said statement shall be due and payable upon mailing and shall become delinquent if not paid within ten (10) days of the mailing date of the notice. Any delinquent fees and charges may be assessed against the property for collection in the same manner as a property tax, as provided in state law.
B. Appeal: A property owner in receipt of a statement of fees and charges for a weed abatement who contests the statement may file a written appeal with the city clerk within ten (10) days of the postmarked date of the statement. An administrative fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) must be paid when the appeal is filed. Failure to file the appeal and pay the administrative fee within said ten (10) days shall constitute a waiver of the right to a hearing, and the statement of fees and charges shall thereupon become final. Hearing on the appeal before the city council or its designated committee shall be scheduled for a date within thirty (30) days of filing the appeal and shall be scheduled for no more than thirty (30) minutes in length, or such additional time as the city council or committee in its discretion may deem necessary. If the appellant desires additional time, he or she must make application to the city council or committee at least seven (7) days prior to the hearing date. The appeal hearing shall be simple and informal, without regard to technicalities of procedure or rules regarding admissibility of evidence. The city council or committee may consider any evidence it considers credible, including testimony of city employees, written summaries and other secondary sources, and give such weight to the evidence as it considers warranted. After such hearing the city council or committee shall determine whether the amount of the assessment should be affirmed, reduced, or waived. Such determination shall be contained in a written decision and shall be filed with the city clerk within ten (10) days after the hearing, or any continued session thereof. In the event the city council or committee waives the amount of the assessment by over half, the fifty dollar ($50.00) filing fee for the appeal will be refunded to the appellant. (Ord. 5389, 2-20-2017)